Adopted girl fills 26/11-hit couple's void

Nov 23, 2012, 04.17AM ISTTNN[ Neha Miglani ]

Their lifeline: Jeevan (C) with Jagtar Singh Kang and Kawaljit

MOHALI: Life's vicissitudes are sometimes rude and ruthless. Major general (retd) Jagtar Singh Kang and his wife seem to have realized this and are trying to fill the void that the 26/11 terror attack left in them.

The elderly couple lost their daughter-in-law, Neeti, and two grandsons - Uday and Samarveer Singh - in the Mumbai bloodbath four years ago. The loss was irreparable. But the Kangs found a way to seek solace by adopting eight-year-old Jeevan, daughter of their domestic cook Surinder Kumar, who has been serving them for the past 22 years at their farmhouse in Kandala, near Jagatpura village in Punjab, along with his family.

"We have nurtured Jeevan as our grand-daughter and take care of her," says 70-year-old Kang.

For Kang and his 66-year-old wife Kawaljit, life has moved on since 26/11 even though they are yet to come to terms with the tragedy.

"Around one year ago, I made my will and have left Rs 11 lakh public provident funds in her (Jeevan's) name. She will also get 5% of the share in this (Kandala) farm house once it is sold after my death," adds Kang, who is suffering from multiple myeloma cancer.

Jeevan is a Class III student at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Airforce high grounds, and is fluent in English. Piling praise on the girl, Kawaljit adds, "I take keen interest in her studies and she has been an excellent student. She is our lifeline. Jeevan eats with us, even if guests visit. Her clothing, diet, schooling, everything is taken care of by us."

Narrating how emotionally attached she is to her "dada-dadi", as the girl fondly calls the Kangs, Kawaljit says Jeevan hugs them the first thing in the morning and doesn't stop crying when the couple leaves for an outstation trip.

"My children, son in the US and daughter in Bahrain, supported my decision to adopt her. My son has even promised that he will take care of Jeevan after my death," says Kang. Jeevan's mother Shalu Devi has been the domestic maid with the Kangs since she married Surinder 10 years ago, and Shalu's brother Ranjit Singh is their driver.

Putting up a brave front, the couple says "nothing can bring back our loved ones, not even Kasab's hanging".

"One has to move on and both of us have. We have found our own way to get out of the tragedy through Jeevan," says Kawaljit. She adds, "My son does not even want to talk about 26/11."

Kang's son Karambir was the general manager of Taj Mahal Palace and Towers, which was targeted by the terrorists on 26/11. His wife and sons were found asphyxiated in the bathroom of the hotel's sixth floor suite which served as their residence.

Karambir is now settled in the US and remarried Priya Nagrani. The couple now has a two-year-old daughter - Aura.